Propagation of plants



Patented Aug. 4, 1942 PROPAGATION OF PLANTS I Silvia Colla, BuenosAires, Argentina, assignor to Radix-Socie'dad de respcnsabilidadlimitada, Buenos Aires, Argentina No Drawing. Application December 23,1938, Se-

rial No. 247,360. In Luxemburg January 29,

13 Claims. (01. 47-58) Since the first work of Went, in 1932,considerable study has been made of the action of auxins and of chemicalbodies which are not themselves auxins but have biological effectssomewhat similar to the auxins on the formation of root growths. Anumber of different compounds useful for such purpose have beensuggested which according to the literature are considered qualitativelyto be more or, less equivalent for each other. making up standardizedmixtures to be effective It is recognized that the auxin-like substancesfor the greatest number of species, I find that which stimulate rootgrowth also have a toxic ordinarily it is advantageous to have an excessefi'ect upon the cuttings which are being treated, of the substance fromthe substituted indole group and for this reason it has been found thatvery and this excess usually will range from double particularconcentrations of the auxin-like sub- 15 the amount by weight, up to 100times the'amount stances must be employed to give the desired efof thesubstance comprising the condensed arofect without unduly injuring thecutting. matic nuclei, but as already stated, in some cir- I havediscovered that the various auxin-like cumstances great benefits areobtained where the substances can be divided into at least two genindolecompound is in a very minor proportion. eral classes and that if one ormore substances By combining two types of auxin-like substances, fromone of the classes is mixed with one or more I find that I canmaterially broaden the limits substances from the other of these twomain of concentration in the selected ex'cipient within classes, theactivity of the auxin-like chemical which really good results areobtained for any compounds-toward stimulating root growth is ingivenspecies. creased and at the same time the toxicity is ap- In addition toinducting root growth, the types parently diminished. As a result whensubstances of root are also important, together with the from the twoclasses are combined together, retissue structure or callus whichdevelops on the sults are obtained greatly superior to the use of baseof the plant, and I have discovered that if, substances from only one ofthese classes. 0 with the mixed auxin-like substances suggested, The twoclasses into which the various auxin- 00 there is included a very smallamount of boron, like substances to which this application relates thtyp of roots and e nature of the callus fall are: on the one hand theindole substitution ow can e greatly improvede boron may products of acompound having a lower fatty acid be included in the form of varioussalts or in some radical in its nucleus; and on the other hand the vcases can even be included in the compound in naphthalene and anthracenesubstitution prodthe form of physiological Compounds containing ucts ofa compound havin a lower fatty acid boron such as those that can beobtained by dryradical in its nucleus. In each case (and also ing dDOWdering o s O ganisms rown where used in the claims) the phrasedescriptive Under Conditions Where y absorb boron. I of the class isintended to include the acid com- 40 have found, however, that a veryconvenient form pound or one of its salts, esters or nitriles and of b o130 b e p yed is sodium tetraborate also to include homologues where oneof the hy- 2 4 'I- 2 In Such ease, the Sodium drogens of one of the ringnuclei is substituted by Dears partly to neutralize the acids of theauxina CH3 group or an aliphatic radical. Typical exlike substances andthe whole mass apparently is amples of substances within the first groupare 3- activated. indole acetic acid or one of its esters, salts or Theamount boron that y be employed will nitriles or other lower fatty acidsor acid comrang Ov quite wide limits but the percenta e pounds such forexample as the propionic or of actual boronp se t n a y should fallwithbutyric acids or compounds. In the same way, in the range of fromone-tenth of 1% to about 7% examples of substances in the second groupinby weight of the sum of the auxin-like substances. elude naphthaleneacetic acid or anthracene o If the tetraborate indicated is employed,the acetic acid or one of their salts, esters or nitriles amount usedordinarily will be between about 1% or the corresponding propionic orbutyric acids or and 60% of the amount of the mixed auxin-likecompounds. substances. Even if only one of the auxin-like In my studiesI have found that the optimum substances is used, its effect may beimproved by proportions in which the ingredients from these two classesmay be employed vary within exceedingly wide limits, and even very smallproportions of a second compound may add surpris ing effectiveness tothe action of the main compound employed. Thus a noticeable difi'erencecan ordinarily be obtained if as little as one part to a thousand (byweight) of a substance from either one of the groups is employed withone or more substances of the other, of the groups. In

the addition of boron.

I prefer to make up the mixed acids and the boron compounds into tabletsor powder of known composition and when these are used for inducing rootgrowth on cuttings, predetermined quantities of water usually are addedas an excipient to give proper concentrations as is understood by thoseworking in this field. As an alternative, the auxin-like substances andthe boron may be compounded into the form of paste with substances suchas petrolatum, lanolin, paramn oil, olive oil, cocoanut oil or th likein which the constituents are included in such a manner as to permit theactivating substances to penetrate gradually but continuously intothetissues. The excipients may advantageously include some finely dividedmaterial having abrasive qualities such as powdered diatomaceous earthor silex or other similar body which will produce very small wounds onthe bark through which the activating agents may pass. This simplifiesand improves the effectiveness of application.

, Components of this type may be employed not only for stimulating rootgrowth in connection with runners and layers but also may be employed instimulating tissue growthfor healing wounds on green branches or trunksof trees or for facilitating grafting or budding. Here again theconcentration may be adjusted to the particular circumstances, for it isnecessary to use a concentration which provokes the formation of thetissue growths but does not result in either the death or the partialnecrosis of buds. Thus in the case where one is budding a rose bush, ifthe concentration is too strong, there may be an over-production ofhealing tissue but the hibernating bud will frequently die. On the otherhand where the dosage is correct, the taking of the graft or bud may becomplete in as litle as five to six days and the bud will develop andproduce a newbranch even out of season. I have also found that theapplication of auxinlike substances of the type specified in the case ofcertain trees stimulates an increase of alkaloids, tannins and otheractive substances in the bark. Under some circumstances this may be ofvalue apart from the increased healing action.

As an added benefit, particularly in the case where root growth is beingstimulated on cuttings, I find that it is advantageous to include in thesolution in which the cuttings are soaked, minute traces of biossubstances and also small quantities of carotene, as the presence ofthese ingredients tends to stimulate the growth. These substances canconveniently be supplied as dilute solutions in alcohol or other usualorganic solvent.

It is also advantageous to supply the cutting with mineral salts to aidits growth during the time that the roots are being formed. Thus aftersoaking the cutting in the auxin-like substances together with the boroncompound and preferably with the minute trace of bios substance andcarotene, the cutting may advantageously be soaked in a dilute solutionof mineral salts of the type found in vegetable growths such for exampleas magnesium sulphate, potassium chloride or other mineral acid salts ofthese and similar substances, together with organic material such asdextrines and dextrose, together with protein derivatives such as aminoacids and preferably a disinfectant such as boric acid.

By following this procedure an exceedingly high proportion ofsatisfactory results can be obtained.

This aplication is a continuation in part of my application Serial No.186,256, filed January 21, 1938.

What I claim is:

1. A composition for the purposes set forth comprising a mixture of anindole substitution product of a compound having a lower fatty acidradical in its nucleus with a substance selected from the groupconsisting of the naphthalene and anthracene substitution products of acompound having a lower fatty acid radical in its nucleus the amount ofthe indole substitution product in such mixture being from double totimes by weight the amount of the substance from the other groupspecified.

2. A composition for the purposes set forth comprising a mixture of anindole substitution product of a compound having a lower fatty acidradical in its nucleus, a substance selected from the group consistingof the naphthalene and anthracene substitution products of a compoundhaving a lower fatty acid radical in its nucleus and also aboron-containing substance.

3. A composition as specified in claim 2, in which the boron-containingsubstance is present in an amount sufficient so that the actual boronpresent is equal to from about 0.1% to about 7% by weight of the othersubstances specified.

4. A compound for the purposes specified comprising an excipient, theingredients specified in claim 2 and also traces of a bios substance andsmall proportions of carotene.

5. A paste for the purposes specified comprising a viscous excipient,the ingredients specified in claim 2 and finely divided abrasivematerial.

6. A composition for the purposes set forth comprising a substanceselected from the group consisting of the indole, naphthalene and,anthracene substitution products of a compound having a lower fatty acidradical in its nucleus, with a boron-containing substance present in anamount sufficient so that the actual boron present is equal to fromabout 0.1% to about 7% by weight of the first mentioned substancepresent.

7. The method of propagating plants from cuttings and the like whichcomprises subjecting the cutting to the action of a compound asspecified in claim 2 and then soaking the ends of such cuttings in asolution comprising mineral salts, dextrin and protein derivatives.

8. The method of propagating plants from outtings and the like whichcomprises subjecting the cutting to the action of a compound asspecified in claim 2 and then soaking the ends of such cuttings in asolution comprising mineral salts, dextrin, protein derivatives and adisinfectant.

9. In the art of causing growth to take place in stem members separatedfrom their original root systems, as in the propagation by cuttings,graft scions and buds, the step of applying to such a stem member acomposition comprising a mixture of an indole substitution product of acompound having a lower fatter acid radical in its nucleus with asubstance selected from the group consisting of the naphthalene andanthracene substitution products of a compound having a lower fatty acidradical in its nucleus.

10. A method comprising the step specified in claim 9, after which thestem member is soaked in a solution comprising mineral salts, dextrinand protein derivatives and then such end is inserted in a mediumadapted to be used for the propagation of cuttings.

11. A method comprising the step specified in claim 9, after which theseparated stem member radical in its nucleus and also a boroncontainingis set into a growing stem member which likewise has been treated withsuch a compound.

12. In the art of budding or grafting, the step of applying to at leastone of the substances to be united a composition comprising a. mixtureof an indole substitution product of a compound having a lower fattyacid radical in its nucleus, a substance selected from the groupconsisting of the naphthalene and anthracene substitution products of acompound having a lower fatty acid 10 substance.

13. A method as specified in claim 12 in which the boron-containingsubstance is present in the composition specified in an amountsufficient so that the actual boron present is equal to from about .1%to about 7% by weight of the other substances specified.

SILVIA COLLA.

GERTIFI GATE OF C ORREC TION Patent No. 2,291,693. August 1;, 191,2.

SILVIA COLLA.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed epecificetionof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1,sec- 0nd column, 11 2 for "inductingf read --inducing--; page 2, firstcolumn, line .22, for "Components" reed. "Compounds"; and second column,line '62, claim 9, for "fa tt er' reed --fe.'tty--; and that thesaid-Letters Patent should. be read with this correction therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office. V I

Signed. and aealed this 20th mayor October, A'. n. 19l;2..

Henry Van Aradale, I (Seal) Acting comniaeioner of Patents.

